Purchasing advice

[marchem]

We've had a Catalina 27 in Santa Cruz for 4 years now and realize that we need something a little larger (at least for sleeping on with the dogs!). There's a Catalina 310 in the SF Bay area for sale and after reading reviews, blogs, and this forum, it looks like the 310 would be a great fit for us.

Any advice on particular things I should be looking for when evaluating/surveying this boat? I've been on the C-27 and C-30 forums and picked up a lot of good info from folks there; in fact I recognize a lot of your names from there. It sounds like the 310 doesn't have the same list of "Fix This ASAP" that the 27/30 does, which is good news. Still I'm sure there are some issues specific to the 310.

 

[rpwillia]

Hmmm...

I can't say you will need to look for too many things. The stuff I have seen and done.

1. Damper plate
2. Heat exchanger (if it has the straps you are good)
3. Make sure the chainplates, stanchions and windows are not leaking (somewhat easy or at least inexpensive fix if you do it yourself)
4. To be honest I got not much of anything else, they are great boats.

 

[Long Story]

Repairs are pretty much a function of how well the past owner / owners took care of that boat, and the quality of any upgrades. Overall there are few issues with the C-310, but you will find good and bad with any older boat.

They are good solid boat's built with quality components, which in most cases were upgraded by Catalina for a boat this size. (you will notice a real big boat feel to this 31')

Like most 310 owners - love our boat.

Russ
s/v Long Story

 

[marchem]

Thanks Ray and Russ for the info. I got to look at the boat today and poke things and stick my head in all the small, dark places. The seller says he thinks the boat shows well, but I thought it was a little tired, dirty, and had that moldy, stinky head smell. We spent a lot of time and effort on our 27 getting everything clean and nice, and smelling good. I was hoping we wouldn't have to do that again. :cry:

It does seem mechanically sound, and has a new heat exch., water heater, refrig. unit, aft motor mounts, water pump, fuel pump; which are all good things to have been replaced by someone else.

It will need new standing rigging (still original after 15 years!), a bottom job, and a new jib. Plus new hoses for the head!!

Guess we need to decide if it's worth the work required to make us happy with it. The 310's don't come up for sale very often, so this is very tempting.

 

[Morfrost2]

I've had my 310, #74, for about a year and this is my first post. I have found this forum to be a very valuable resource, almost all my questions have been answered before I had to ask. If you go through the threads, you will find reference to almost everything that needs to be done on the boat, though it sounds like a lot of the issues coming up about now have already been handled on the boat you've seen. I think the main thing to recognize is that the 310 was designed for a very specific owner. The design tradeoffs are really obvious and some are pretty extreme. If those aspects of the boat appeal to you, you will absolutely love the boat. If they don't, you probably won't like it--I presume the reason no other boat of comparable size is laid out like the 310 is that it doesn't appeal to most people. I, like most 310 owners, LOVE my boat (even while replacing the raw water pump and the fuel pump). Most of my sailing is with just my wife, who doesn't like to do much of the 'work' of sailing and I'm a big guy who likes being able to fit comfortably in the V-berth; so, this boat was designed for me. If you're looking at a 310 and are thinking "[Feature x] is great, I wonder why more builders don't do it this way?" get the boat, you'll end up liking it even more than you think. If you're thinking "This is odd, I wonder why they did that?" you'll probably hate it.

 

[peter_ms]

I second that; we saw hull #3 or so @ '99 Annapolis boat show. I was only 2 steps down the companionway when I knew this was to be my boat. June 2001 we took delivery of For Pete's Sake and never regretted it for a moment. Had some QC issues with CY and the dealer never did complete the defect punch list over 2 summers; but all in all I would do it again
Peter

 

[rukidn]

The seller says he thinks the boat shows well, but I thought it was a little tired, dirty, and had that moldy, stinky head smell. We spent a lot of time and effort on our 27 getting everything clean and nice, and smelling good. I was hoping we wouldn't have to do that again. :cry:

My 310 sat a long time in the brokerage and was a moldy, stinky mess. It did clean up nicely, and recent sanitation hose change and new Raritan head made it a "new boat". Worth the effort IMHO, and you'll find a lot of support on this forum. Happy shopping.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

I've had my 310, #74, for about a year and this is my first post. I have found this forum to be a very valuable resource, almost all my questions have been answered before I had to ask. If you go through the threads, you will find reference to almost everything that needs to be done on the boat, though it sounds like a lot of the issues coming up about now have already been handled on the boat you've seen. I think the main thing to recognize is that the 310 was designed for a very specific owner. The design tradeoffs are really obvious and some are pretty extreme. If those aspects of the boat appeal to you, you will absolutely love the boat. If they don't, you probably won't like it--I presume the reason no other boat of comparable size is laid out like the 310 is that it doesn't appeal to most people. I, like most 310 owners, LOVE my boat (even while replacing the raw water pump and the fuel pump). Most of my sailing is with just my wife, who doesn't like to do much of the 'work' of sailing and I'm a big guy who likes being able to fit comfortably in the V-berth; so, this boat was designed for me. If you're looking at a 310 and are thinking "[Feature x] is great, I wonder why more builders don't do it this way?" get the boat, you'll end up liking it even more than you think. If you're thinking "This is odd, I wonder why they did that?" you'll probably hate it.

Been away from the computer working on the boat and visiting family before we leave to go cruising. Sorry for the late reply.

But this really is the best response out there. The C310 is a unique design. Some love it, some hate it. We had dinner on a friends C36 a couple of weeks ago. They were all proud about eating dinner with 6 people in their salon. You certainty can't do that on the C310 easy. But it was a nice night and we couldn't eat in the cockpit because it was too small for six. We feed eight in our cockpit regularly.

So its all a series of compromises. We like the balance of those compromises on the C310. It immediately spoke to us from the first time we saw pictures on Yachtworld.com. If the C310 doesn't make you feel that way, move on to a boat that does.

 

[Clydo]

Been away from the computer working on the boat and visiting family before we leave to go cruising. Sorry for the late reply.

But this really is the best response out there. The C310 is a unique design. Some love it, some hate it. We had dinner on a friends C36 a couple of weeks ago. They were all proud about eating dinner with 6 people in their salon. You certainty can't do that on the C310 easy. But it was a nice night and we couldn't eat in the cockpit because it was too small for six. We feed eight in our cockpit regularly.

So its all a series of compromises. We like the balance of those compromises on the C310. It immediately spoke to us from the first time we saw pictures on Yachtworld.com. If the C310 doesn't make you feel that way, move on to a boat that does.

I have had C27, C30, and now C310. Really like wider decks, more
control lines, much lighter interior with better cross ventilation, great
mattress and roomer Vberth compared to C30. Easier to get to engine
and stuffing box. Use aft berth for "garage." Access to some valves
a pain as well as some other things to work on. Really liked C30
"boaty" appearance compared to C310. C310 little faster and better
cockpit layout. All in all very happy with C310 and this list very
helpful. Would make same decision again and move up to C310.

Clyde Thorington
C310 # 245
ILEAN TOO
San Jose, CA

 

[Alansails]

This Forum and our association are GREAT sources of information and support-sometimes a little snarky too and that's good!When Gerry Douglas designed the boat he said he wanted it to "have 8 for Drinks, 4 for Dinner and Two for bed". We have done all and than some,as we just had family aboard to sail for the weekend. We also had our Lake Erie Rendezvous and saw some Personal touches to boats that was great. We have had other sailers sail with us who own everything from Catalina 25,30, 38 and an Jeaneau owners who all compliment on how nice the boat sails.
Rukidn did a great job on his boat and he had Lots of family aboard, But like all have said you will know if this is YOUR BOAT!

 

[marchem]

Thanks to all. I'm understanding the appeal of the boat. We did a test sail Sunday; pretty breezy conditions on South San Francisco Bay. Some great and funny stories involved, but the take home was that both of us really like the boat.

Trying to get a survey set up and then negotiate final pricing.

Cheers,

 

[Long Story]

That was my next comment - sail her and see what you think. I have three friends all with 30's and all three say my 310 sails much better....

Russ
s/v Long Story

 

[marchem]

Again, thanks to all who replied as well as all the info on this forum. Our offer was accepted, so assuming the boat and engine surveys don't turn up too big of a surprise, we will be happy 310 owners in just a few weeks.

Looking forward to it, although it does mean selling the Catalina 27 and changing my signature block here.

 

[peter_ms]

Again, thanks to all who replied as well as all the info on this forum. Our offer was accepted, so assuming the boat and engine surveys don't turn up too big of a surprise, we will be happy 310 owners in just a few weeks. Looking forward to it, although it does mean selling the Catalina 27 and changing my signature block here.

That was our upgrade path too. '84 C27 to a new '01 C310...
You will never miss the 27 except spring prep...
Peter

 

[SawyerCurt]

Rob,

Don't forget to join the C310 International Association! If you need an application send me a private message.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

Congrats! I hope all goes well with the survey.